Apologies for it having been so long since writing. Between working and moving it's been an intense year. Not much in the way of action after Saburo's death, but if you've wanted to see the budding relationship between Linnsa and Genzo, hopefully you'll enjoy.
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"Babies!"
Running into the living room, Angela began to cry when Yang and Snotty scrambled madly to greet her, meowing loudly and rubbing themselves against her leg. "Oh God, I've missed you guys and you've gotten so big! But...where's Yin?" she wondered aloud.
"Is that her over there on the bookshelf?" Linnsa asked, pointing.
Following her indication, Angela looked to the top of the bookshelf where Yin sat with her feet tucked beneath her, eyes closed. When she tried to reach onto the shelf to pick her up for a hug, Yin gave her a bored look and moved to the other end of the shelf where Angela couldn't reach her. "Oh no! She's mad at me!" she wailed. "Yin, aren't you happy to see Mommy?" As if understanding her, Yin merely turned around so that she was no longer facing everyone.
"Give her some time," Noboru coaxed, not wanting her to cry more. "I am sure she will come to you." Angela simply sniffled and kept staring longingly at Yin's furry backside.
"They are so cute!" Linnsa exclaimed. She started laughing when Yang jumped onto Genzo's pant leg and began climbing up his body in her eagerness to say hello. "Well, somebody missed you."
Cradling her in his arms, Genzo rubbed his face in her fuzzy mane. "Yang-chan." She crooned happily at the sound of his voice and closed her eyes as he rubbed her belly.
"And who's this?" Kneeling down, she giggled as Snotty continually butted his head against her outstretched hand.
"Is anyone hungry?" Noboru inquired. "I will have something brought in."
"Starved!" the two women chirped in unison.
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As the four sat down to a dinner of Italian take out, Yang refused to be moved from Genzo's shoulder and Snotty had firmly established himself in Linnsa's lap, kneading her leg with his front paws as he contentedly slept. Angela looked again towards where Yin had secluded herself, but she showed no signs of warming up to her. She threw Noboru a sad glance and he mouthed "[guk jung mah lah]."
Genzo picked at his meal not sure of how to proceed. "[Ano], Linnsa?"
"Hm?" Linnsa raised her head from her plate of spaghetti.
"Could I have a copy of our conversation?"
"What for?" she asked quizzically.
"I...ah...would like to study it further." Genzo rubbed the back of his head awkwardly which prompted Yang to begin grooming his hair. Linnsa laughed at how much Yang loved lavishing attention on him. "Okay, but there'll be a pop quiz later," she joked.
"Genzo, come with me," Noboru said, gesturing towards another room.
"Hai." After Genzo apologetically lifted a reluctant Yang off his neck, the two men left the women to continue eating.
Opening his suitcase, Noboru removed the tiny bottle of antivirus and a syringe. For a moment, he said nothing and simply looked at the objects in his hand. "Are you certain you want to go through with this?"
The sound of the two sisters laughing floated into the room. "I have never been more certain about anything. Please."
Sighing, Noboru nodded and rolled up Genzo's sleeve. Drawing up a small dose into the syringe, he injected it into his shoulder muscle. "If you're alright at the end of the week, it means that you've successfully been treated."
"How long until I'll know that it's making me ill?"
"Two to three days."
Genzo pulled his sleeve down over his deltoid and bowed his head to Noboru. "Whatever happens...thank you."
"Don't think that way." Putting on a smile, he added, "Now we need to find a role for you so that you can look after Linnsa." He was rewarded with a pleased smile.
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guk jung mah lah: don't worry (Korean)
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"Are you leaving, Genzo?"
"Yes. I must return to my own apartment."
Linnsa's paused for a moment, then her eyes narrowed "Did you do it?" When he nodded, her worry deepened. "Don't go! What if something happens?"
"Nothing will happen," he promised lightly. Inwardly, he was delighted that she seemed concerned for his well being.
"You expect me to believe that? You forget who you're talking to." Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she glared up at him. "You need a doctor with you in case something happens."
"I doubt you will be of much help if something does," he pointed out.
"You don't know that!"
"I will be fine."
"Uh, it wasn't a request, Genzo."
Everyone smiled at the way she sassed him. "Stay here for the time being," Noboru suggested. "As a favor to a friend who is worried for your health."
"Yeah, what he said," Linnsa echoed gruffly. That elicited another set of laughs. Glad for an excuse to stay, Genzo nodded in agreement..
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Six hours after returning home, as Angela got into bed to turn in, she squealed in delight as Yin finally came bounding into the bed. Nuzzling her ardently, the little white cat paced a few circles on her chest before tucking her paws underneath her and purring as if no time at all had passed. "I predicted that she would come to you, did I not?" Noboru noted with an I-told-you-so voice. When Snotty jumped onto his pillow and curled up into a ball, he rolled his eyes. "Another accurate prediction. Snotty-kun, go away." His answer was to yawn loudly and begin kneading the pillow.
"Oh, my little sweetie, don't ever ignore me like that again!" As she peppered Yin's head with little kisses, the kitten closed her eyes and rumbled more loudly. Happy to have her back at last, Angela took care not to move so that Yin wouldn't change her mind and leave. Now that the two of them were alone, she asked, "How are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"